Clang!Sparks flew.In a flash, Austin tilted his head, raised his blade, and instinctively blocked. The bullet pierced the blade, whistling past and grazing Austin's cheek.In an instant, a searing burn spread across his face, making Austin frown in pain.The sudden gunshot brought the courtyard to a dead silence.Ezra and Aldus looked at Austin in a panic.Seeing that he was only grazed, they both breathed a sigh of relief, though their expression remained tense.Dorothy and Mason were also taken aback.After a moment of shock, Dorothy's face flushed with excitement, and she burst out laughing."Good, good, good!"The three "good" revealed her sense of relief and exhilaration. She laughed loudly, 'Which descendant of the Campbells is protecting me? This is a great deed!'"Just now, if it weren't for the secret shot, Dorothy did not doubt that Austin's sword would have come down on her.Such a brazen and rebellious person—what wouldn't he dare to do?Mason's eyes were fil
Meanwhile.Ezra slowly approached Austin and whispered, "Sir, this young man is Fabian Campbell, a member of the Campbell family. He was notoriously unruly and violent in his early years. When the Campbell heirs were being decided, he was excluded due to his temperament. So Mr. Walter ordered Aldus to recommend him to the Western Front to serve."Not an heir?!Austin was slightly surprised.He glanced deeply at Fabian and suddenly understood a bit more.Returning from the military and immediately firing that shot—could his purpose be that clear?Sensing Austin's gaze, Fabian's smile toward Aldus vanished. His expression turned cold and stern as he looked at Austin."This is the Campbell residence. I don’t care who you are or what your status is. If you intend to disrespect Grandma, you’ll have to answer to my gun first!"His words were firm and powerful. As he spoke, he slowly raised his gun again, pointing it at Austin."Fabian!" Aldus's expression turned fierce, and he shout
Everyone present turned pale.Fabian's expression hardened, veins bulging at his temples, his face twisted with rage."How dare you!""Why wouldn't I dare?" Austin sneered, his demeanor overbearing.In an instant, the courtyard was filled with tension, and the atmosphere was thick with hostilityEzra and Aldus wanted to intervene, but they knew it was too late to stop this. From the moment Austin had fought with Dorothy, things had reached the point of no return.Fabian's appearance, as Austin had said, was just an attempt to use him to climb the ranks. What Austin was doing now was shattering Fabian's plans.Suddenly, a burst of laughter broke the silence. Dorothy lowered her head, shaking with laughter.Everyone watched in bewilderment.Abruptly, Dorothy looked up. "Fabian, I wronged you back then by not giving you the status of an heir. If you kill this illegitimate child today, his heir status will be yours!""Mrs. Campbell Senior!"Ezra and Aldus both shouted in unison.
Walter sat in a wheelchair, his gaze like lightning, locking onto Dorothy.Behind him, Raquel was pushing the wheelchair, walking slowly, flanked by a dozen Campbell family members.The atmosphere was heavy and oppressive.Even in a wheelchair, looking frail, Walter exuded a formidable aura that filled everyone with dread."Did Raquel find Dad?"Seeing Raquel, Austin immediately understood. He glanced at Ezra and Aldus, realizing that leaving Raquel outside earlier had been the right decision."Walter, this is my courtyard. What right do you have to barge in?" Dorothy was the first to speak out."Barge in?"Walter smirked. "Aunt Dorothy, you must be joking. I'm the head of the Campbells. Is there any part of this estate that I can't enter? Did you think that just because I respect you, you can treat this courtyard as your private domain?""You..." Dorothy's face twisted with anger, teeth clenched.Walter raised a hand to interrupt. "Calm down, Aunt Dorothy. I heard that there
The overwhelming coldness was chilling to the bone.Dorothy's face turned ashen, her features twisting in rage and fear.Walter's words were directed at her, reminiscent of that time at the Bamboo Parlor in the Tetra Club, when he had invited her to meet her end.Mason and Fabian were already terrified, feeling as if they were sitting on pins and needles, unable to stand still.Fear surged like a tide, threatening to drown them.If Walter dared to speak to Dorothy like this, what did that make them in his eyes?Ezra and Aldus were inwardly thrilled, clenching their fists in excitement.Austin's lips curled into a smile as he looked at Walter.Having Walter back him up felt incredible, it was a feeling he had dreamed of his whole life."My son Austin will not be humiliated by anyone."Walter's voice was cold as ice, imperious and domineering. "Even a rabbit can get angry. Why shouldn't my son fight back? Aunt Dorothy, if you were humiliated like this, would you meekly accept i
Walter had no qualms about threatening Dorothy with paying respect to the ancestors, a blatant and undisguised threat.For Fabian, a Campbell without heir status, Walter could kill him as easily as squashing an ant.Leaving Tranquil Pavilion, Austin took the wheelchair from Raquel and slowly pushed Walter forward.No one spoke along the way, and Ezra and Aldus quietly followed behind."Raquel, how did you find Mr. Walter?" Aldus asked in a low voice.The vast Campbell residence was a maze for newcomers. Finding Walter, who was heavily guarded while recovering, was no small feet.Especially now, with Walter having just been attacked, the Campbell residence had tightened its security to the highest level. Moving around freely was nearly impossible."Someone led me," Raquel said with a mysterious smile."Who?" Aldus asked in astonishment.Ezra gave Aldus a sideways glance. "Aldus, if Raquel can't say, don't press her. Despite the general disdain for sir among the Campbells, there
Austin was speechless.Was this supposed to be a joke?"Do you think I'm joking?" Walter seemed to read Austin's mind.Austin remained silent.Walter chuckled and said, "You'll understand the difference over time."Righteous authority, dominant force, the path of compassion...Austin mulled over these concepts, deep in thought. Walter's words seemed like a joke, but upon closer reflection, there was a subtle distinction.Soon, they arrived at a grand estate.This estate was set apart from the surrounding houses and pavilions in scale and architectural style, exuding a majestic and solemn atmosphere."Sir, this is Mr. Walter's residence," Ezra said softly.Looking at the grand estate before him, Austin felt a strange emotion stir. It was a complex feeling, difficult to describe.Yet instinctively, he clenched his fists, his eyes filled with unprecedented determination.Entering the estate, a crowd of servants bustled about.Walter led Austin and the others into the main hal
Austin said, "Uncle Alexander found me, and I had him stay for three days. On the third day, Nether showed up. Uncle Alexander helped me drive him away before leaving.""He didn't come directly to the Campbell Residence. He slipped into the Campbell Residence shortly before my attack and happened to encounter Nether's assault, so he intervened."Walter's eyes were deep, his fingers lightly tapping the armrest of his wheelchair. "Did you see the heads on the Campbell Residence arch? That was put there by your Uncle Alexander."Austin was momentarily stunned but quickly grasped the situation."He slipped into the Campbell Residence? What does that mean?"Although Alexander had lost the competition for the family head position to Walter years ago and for some unknown reason ended up in Grave Prison, he was still a Campbell and a former heir at that, with a close relationship to Walter.Logically, he should have entered the Campbell Residence openly, not in secret."How would I know
Austin never expected that Nancy would come back.As he returned to the Tetra Club, he remained sullen, his eyes dark with unresolved anger.Seeing Austin like this, Cecily felt a pang of sadness.She gently tried to comfort him, "It's all in the past now, isn't it? I'm here with you, and we have our baby on the way.""I can't just let it go," Austin shook his head."The best I can do is not seek revenge against them, but to truly forgive and forget—I can't do that."The actions of Nancy's family were still fresh in his memory.Austin wasn't someone who sought revenge for every slight, but he was far from the kind of person who could simply forgive and forget, moving on with a carefree "Hallelujah."Dahlia's despair as she lay in bed, the arrogance and cruelty of the Welch family…In the eyes of the Welch family, Dahlia's life wasn't worth as much as Harvey's wedding.Even when the time had passed and he was about to finally be happy with Cecily, the Welch family not only dem
After leaving this city, Nancy put in a tremendous amount of effort to "rebirth" herself.Meeting Ethan had shown her a different side of life.While he wasn't part of the uppermost echelons of wealth and power, he had enough. Most importantly, he treated her with the utmost respect.She understood Ethan's background, which made that respect all the more valuable.A man of his stature could have any woman he wanted in his bed the same night.Yet Ethan had shown her incredible patience, making her question whether the rumors about him were true.Tonight, returning to this city was her way of bidding farewell to the past and embracing the future.After all, people need to look forward, don't they?Meanwhile, Ethan was feeling more dejected than he'd ever been.Lying in his luxurious bed in Brook Villa, he couldn't sleep, tossing and turning restlessly.He had hoped to establish a connection with Austin. A figure like him would be incredibly valuable to have on his side.He tho
The river breeze was cool, and the lights reflected on the water flickered softly.The figure in front of them wore a long black coat, standing quietly by the railing. Her fair, delicate profile, partially obscured by a few strands of windblown hair, carried a hint of melancholy."Sir, Mrs. Campbell, is something wrong?" Aldus noticed the change and quickly stepped forward to inquire."Let's go home," Austin suddenly said, his previously cheerful expression now somber, with a touch of disdain.Go home? They had just arrived.Aldus was surprised and quickly followed Austin's gaze. When he saw what Austin was looking at, he immediately understood.Without a word, he turned to leave with Austin.But a soft hand gently grabbed Austin's arm."It's been so many years, aren't you going to say hello?" Cecily asked."I have no desire to greet her," Austin said, his disdain clear and unhidden.Three years of marriage, filled with nothing but pain.Even when Dahlia was gravely ill, Nan
After a busy day, just as Austin was about to finish up, a new invitation appeared on his desk."Who delivered this?" Austin asked."Ethan," Wolf replied.Austin chuckled, didn't bother opening the invitation, and instead tossed it directly into the trash."I've got to get home to Cecily."When he returned to the Bamboo Parlor at Tetra Club, Raquel had already prepared a delicious dinner.The dishes were beautifully presented, with vibrant colors and enticing aromas.After dinner, Austin and Ezra stepped out into the courtyard."Mr. Lockwood, any news from the Campbells about my dad?" Austin asked, the text message from Walter still weighing heavily on his mind.Considering the Campbells' efforts to find Walter, and given their intelligence resources, they should have been some leads by now.But Ezra shook his head. "Nothing, Not a trace.""The Campbells' intelligence network has never been this weak, has it?" Austin frowned, speaking in a low tone.Ezra gave a wry smile. "
"Childhood?"Austin stopped his workout, wiped the sweat from his face, and smiled bitterly.His childhood had been bleak.Only Dahlia had brought some light into the darkness.Seeing Austin's pained smile, Aldus immediately realized his mistake.He quickly apologized, "I'm sorry, Sir. I spoke without thinking. You don't need to answer that.""It's fine," Austin replied, gesturing towards a nearby bench, and inviting Aldus to sit with him.Once they were seated, Austin slowly began to speak. "There's not much to tell about my childhood. It was mostly just being called an 'illegitimate child' and living day to day, never knowing where my next meal would come from."If it weren't for my mom fighting tooth and nail to raise me, I'd probably be dead by now."With just a few simple words, he conveyed a world of suffering.Aldus felt a wave of guilt. He had only been trying to find clues from Austin's past that might explain his exceptional combat instincts and incredible physical
Austin's gaze softened as warmth flooded his heart.Who hasn't longed for a light left on just for them in a sea of lights? But in reality, how many actually have that?Cecily did that for him.Given her background, the fact that she went to such lengths truly surprised Austin.In the three years he spent in the past, he had never experienced something like this.His nose tingled with emotion as he pulled Cecily into his arms, speaking softly, "Thank you. Marrying you is the greatest fortune of my life.""Alright, alright, I asked Raquel to prepare breakfast earlier this morning. You go to the dining room, and I'll have her bring it over," Cecily said as she gently slipped out of Austin's embrace, her graceful smile lighting up her eyes."Doesn't Bamboo Parlor have a kitchen?" Austin asked, curious.Cecily gave him a playful look. "The chairs in the living room are so hard, and you spent the whole night on one—how could you have slept well? If Raquel had been clattering around
The room fell into a heavy silence."Deactivating the phone number… was Dad trying to prevent me from tracking his location?" Austin murmured with a frown.Ezra pondered for a moment, his voice low and serious. "Perhaps he was more concerned about someone else tracking him."Austin's eyes widened in realization.Of course—if Walter could send him a message to let him know he was safe, he wouldn't be worried about Austin tracking himDeactivating the phone was likely to prevent others from tracing his location."But who is he trying to avoid?"Ezra shook his head, remaining silent.Having followed Walter for many years, he knew the man's temperament and habits. But this time, he was truly baffled.He couldn't even begin to piece together a clue.Taking a deep breath, Ezra forced a bitter smile. "I'm afraid I'm at a loss this time, sir. There's no sign of anything unusual from the Campbells either."This statement only deepened Austin's confusion.If there were anyone who cou
Austin knocked softly on the door.Almost immediately, he heard the sound of shuffling from inside.Ezra opened the door, his face full of curiosity. "Sir, what's going on?"Austin quickly made a shushing gesture, worried about disturbing Cecily.Then he gently pushed Ezra back into the room."Sorry to bother you so late, Mr. Lockwood," Austin said.Ezra smiled. "It's no trouble at all. The older you get, the less you need. I was just reading."Austin glanced at the book on Ezra's bedside table and couldn't help but feel a bit exasperated.This old rascal!Ezra blushed and quickly shoved the book under his pillow.Austin sat on the bed and pulled up the text message from Walter, showing it to Ezra."I just received this message."When Ezra read the text, his eyes lit up with a sharp gleam, and he was overjoyed. "This is from Mr. Walter!"Austin nodded, his expression serious. "But I've sent several messages back, and there's been no reply. I called twice—once it was immedi
"The underground king of Eastbrook bows down."This news swept through Eastbrook like a storm.Ethan knew that by doing this, he would become the laughingstock of the entire city. But he also knew he had no choice—he had to do it!Even if he became a joke, he would remain the underground king. But if he refused to lower his head, he would end up a dead man.He understood the situation perfectly.In fact, that very night, a message was released from Brook Villa.No one is to compete for the land!This is a clear warning to all real estate companies in Eastbrook. It was also a gesture of goodwill toward Austin.But Austin didn't pay it much mind.If not for Derrick's involvement, he had no idea how Ethan would have responded—but Austin knew his response would have been much tougher.A mere city's underground king? He didn't even compare to the richest man in Basin City or the capital—he wasn't even worthy of carrying their shoes!After leaving Brook Villa, Austin didn't linger